Comments on: Canadians Are Wired http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:02:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Agoracom: Small Cap Investment http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/#comment-84768 Agoracom: Small Cap Investment Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:15:04 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3612#comment-84768 [...] tip to Tech Blogger, Mark Evans, who first covered the [...] [...] tip to Tech Blogger, Mark Evans, who first covered the [...]

]]> By: Jonathon http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/#comment-79512 Jonathon Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:08:49 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3612#comment-79512 The size of the Internet population isn't an issue at all. It's just a metric we can plug into real issues like the proposed copyright legislation. Another issue that will be prioritized much higher is the security of the Internet infrastructure we're using. As people come to understand that virtually all blogs and websites they frequent are pretty much unsecured vectors for cyber hackers to steal their info, we'll hopefully see a better emphasis on web security (Read <a href="http://www.pcis.com/web/vvblog.nsf/dx/06122008033044PMVVIUEJ.htm?opendocument&comments#anc1" rel="nofollow">Is Your Website Safe?</a>). Imagine if two thirds of Canadians took a plane every day and the only security they had was at the ticket check-in, and all that was required was a (hopefully valid) passport. Hopefully, we'll see some progress on this in 2008. The size of the Internet population isn’t an issue at all. It’s just a metric we can plug into real issues like the proposed copyright legislation. Another issue that will be prioritized much higher is the security of the Internet infrastructure we’re using.

As people come to understand that virtually all blogs and websites they frequent are pretty much unsecured vectors for cyber hackers to steal their info, we’ll hopefully see a better emphasis on web security (Read Is Your Website Safe?). Imagine if two thirds of Canadians took a plane every day and the only security they had was at the ticket check-in, and all that was required was a (hopefully valid) passport. Hopefully, we’ll see some progress on this in 2008.

]]> By: Daniel Gibbons http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/#comment-79435 Daniel Gibbons Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:58:57 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3612#comment-79435 Oh don't get me started on Ikea... My last Ikea online shopping experience went like this: 1. I happily browsed the website and filled my cart. 2. I then discovered by means of a phone call from Ikea that nothing I had ordered was in stock... 3. ...even though it was in stock at the local stores... 4. ...which draw from completely separated, walled-off inventory, that the website can "see" but online shoppers can't buy. The Ikea person I spoke to literally said "yea, it's really not worth trying to buy stuff on the website." Of course this was a few years ago, but it sounds like things haven't changed. Oh don’t get me started on Ikea… My last Ikea online shopping experience went like this:

1. I happily browsed the website and filled my cart.

2. I then discovered by means of a phone call from Ikea that nothing I had ordered was in stock…

3. …even though it was in stock at the local stores…

4. …which draw from completely separated, walled-off inventory, that the website can “see” but online shoppers can’t buy.

The Ikea person I spoke to literally said “yea, it’s really not worth trying to buy stuff on the website.” Of course this was a few years ago, but it sounds like things haven’t changed.

]]> By: Mark Evans http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/#comment-79284 Mark Evans Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:19:29 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3612#comment-79284 You're absolutely right. If you've ever shopped at Ikea, for example, you know that they're not really doing e-commerce but trying to make it appear as if they are online savvy. Mark You’re absolutely right. If you’ve ever shopped at Ikea, for example, you know that they’re not really doing e-commerce but trying to make it appear as if they are online savvy.

Mark

]]> By: Daniel Gibbons http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/07/16/canadians-are-wired/#comment-79093 Daniel Gibbons Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:32:49 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/?p=3612#comment-79093 At least as concerning as the net neutrality / copyright issues is the dismal state of e-commerce in Canada. Setting up a merchant account is still unbelievably painful compared to the US, and I can't find a link to back this up right now, but anecdotally I've heard that the number of merchants setting up e-comm in Canada is declining. E-commerce transactions are increasing daily, which simply means we're sending an ever lower proportion of this business to Canadian companies. At least as concerning as the net neutrality / copyright issues is the dismal state of e-commerce in Canada. Setting up a merchant account is still unbelievably painful compared to the US, and I can’t find a link to back this up right now, but anecdotally I’ve heard that the number of merchants setting up e-comm in Canada is declining. E-commerce transactions are increasing daily, which simply means we’re sending an ever lower proportion of this business to Canadian companies.

]]>